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A Sketch 
of the 

Early Settlement 
of Olean 

and its 
Founder 
Major Adam Hoops 



AND ITS FOUNDER 



Major ^cl&m Hoops 



By MAUD D. BROOKS 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 
Olean, N. Y. 



;w 



A SKETCH 

OF THE 

EVlRLcY SETTLEMENT 
OUEAN 



NOTE. 



This little sketch was read Dec, 14, 1897, at the 
organization of the Olean Chapter of the Daughters of 
the American Revolution, and is published at the re- 
quest of many members of the Chapter and others inter- 
ested in local history. 

It seemed necessary to begin the sketch with a brief 
synopsis of the colonial history of New York, naming 
the divisions and sub-divisions that have been made 
from time to time, and the several jurisdictions that the 
territory, now embraced within the limits of Cattaraugus 
county, has been under since the Revolutionary period. 
Heretofore little or nothing has been known concerning 
Major Adam Hoops, and many have doubted whether 
he ever visited his purchase in Western New York, 
The letters quoted are proof that he not only visited 
frequently the settlement at Olean Point, but was famil- 
iar with all the territory in the western part of the 
state. . m. d. b. 



(.'. 



M 



SKETCH OF QUE AN 



AND ITS FOUNDER 



MAJOR ADAM HOOPS. 



The Dutch made the first settlement in the state of 
New York, which they called New Netherlands, and 
they continued in possession until 1664, when Charles 
II., regardless of the Dutch claims, granted to his 
brother, Duke of York, afterwards James II., the whole 
country between the Connecticut and the Delaware 
rivers. 

This possessiod passed into the hands of the English, 
September 3d, 1664, and the name was changed to New 
York. 

During the same year, Richard Nicolls was appoint- 
ed Governor and, on his arrival in the Colony, articles of 
capitulation were agreed upon giving the Dutch certain 
rights, and in February, 1665, a convention was held at 
Hempstead to confirm a body of laws, which afterwards 
came to be known as the "Duke's Laws." 

They originally applied only to the shire of York- 



shire, and did not go into effect in the Colony of New 
York until after the second occupation by the Dutch in 
1674. 

Additions and amendments were made from time to 
time. 

The first General Assembly was held at Ft. James, in 
the city of New York, October 17th., 1683. The second 
Assembly convened November 1st., and passed "An act 
to divide this province and dependences into shires and 
Countyes." 

It was divided into twelve counties as follows: New 
York, Westchester, Dutchess, Albany, Ulster, Orange, 
Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Duke and Cornwall, 
and all their boundaries were minutely defined. 

Albany County subsequently was made to comprise 
all of New York to its northern and western limits. 

These divisions remained unchanged, practically, 
until March 12th, 1772, when an Act was passed, "To 
divide the County of Albany into three Counties," name- 
ly, Tryon, Charlotte and Albany. 

The section of the act relating to Tryon County reads 
thus: ''And be it further enacted by the same Authority. 
That all the Lands lying within the Colony to the West- 
ward of the County of Albany as by this Act restricted, 
and to the Westward of the North Line from the Mohawk 
River above mentioned continued to the North Bounds 
of this Province shall be one Separate and distinct 
County, and be called and known by the name of the 
County of Tryon." 

Twelve days later, March 24th, 1772, another act was 



passed "to divide the Counties of Albany and Tryon 
into Districts." 

Tryon was divided into five districts, the Mohawk, 
Stone Arabia, Canajoxharie, German Flatts and Kings- 
land. The following year, 1773, the names of Stone 
Arabia, German Flatts and Kingsland were changed re- 
spectively to Palatine, Kingsland and German Flatts, 
and in April, 1775, the name of "Old New England 
District" was gived to a part of the county. 

The whole of New York State west of Albany was 
also designated as the "Mohawk Valley." 

The population of the whole of Tryon County was 
onl} T a few thousand, when the Revolution commenced, 
and the condition of the settlement was such that this 
section of "Western New York had but a remote connec- 
tion with the long and eventful struggle that ended in a 
separation of the Colonies, and the blessings of a free 
and independent government." 

It will not be necessary to cite any of the causes and 
events of the Revolution for they are incorporated in 
many volumes and are more or less familiar to all. 

The Province of New York was one of the foremost 
in asserting its rights, when the British Government be- 
came oppressive. 

Its resistance ©f the Stamp Act, in 1765, resulted in 
the convening of a congress in New York, the same year. 

In 1774, there assembled in Tryon county, a repre- 
sentative number of its citizens, who "declared unaltered 
and determined allegiance to the British crown, but 
strenuously remonstrated against an act which it regard- 



ed as oppressive and arbitrary." They also sent five 
delegates to the congress in Philadelphia. 

In the spingof 1775, after the results of the congress 
in Philadelphia had been learned, during a session of 
the court at Johnstown (the county-seat of Tryon county) 
the loyalists of that county, of whom Col. Johnson was 
the leader, drew up and circulated a declaration oppos- 
ing the proceedings of that congress. 

This occasioned much controversy, but was finally 
signed by most of the jurors and magistrates. 

This declaration met with much opposition in most 
of the districts of the county. Many public meetings 
were held and other articles were adopted which ap- 
proved of the proceedings at Philadelphia. 

On the 8th day of May, 1775, a letter, written by the 
Palatine committee, was sent to the Albany committee, 
in which was stated that they were ''busy circulating 
petitions and enlisting the citizens of Tryon county on 
the sides of the colonies," but they say : "This county 
has for a series of years been ruled by one family, the 
different branches of which are still strenuous in per- 
suading people not to come into congressional measures. 

* * * We are informed that Johnson Hall is fortified 

* * and that Col. Johnson has stopped two New Eng- 
enders and searched them, being as we suppose, suspi- 
cious that they came to solicit aid from us or the 
Indians. * * * We recommend it strongly and seriousty 
to you to take it in your consideration, whether any 
powder and ammunition ought to be permitted to be 
sent up this way, unless it be done under the inspection 



of a committee. * * * As we are a young county, re- 
mote from the metropolis, we beg you will give us all 
the intelligence in your power. We shall not be able to 
send down any deputies to the Provincial Congress, as 
we can not possibly obtain the sense of the county soon 
enough to make it worth while to send any, but be 
assured we are not the less attached to American 
liberty. For we are determined, although few in num- 
ber, to let the world see who are, and who are not such ; 
and to wipe off the indelible disgrace brought upon us 
by the declaration signed by our grand jury, and some 
of our magistrates; who in general, are considered by a 
majority of our county, as enemies to their country. In 
a word, gentlemen, it is our fixed resolution to support, 
and carry into execution, everything recommended by 
the Continental Congress, and to be free or die." 

Many more meetings of the Palatine committee were 
held, and other letters addressed to the friends in Albany 
telling of the unsettled state of affairs in Tryon county. 
Finally the condition of this part of the state became 
more peaceful by the withdrawal of Guy Johnson and 
his retinue to Montreal, where "he continued to act, dur- 
ing the war, as an agent of the British Government." 

The first delegates to the Provincial Congress from 
Tryon county, were John Marlatt and John Moore, and 
they were instructed "to vote for the entire independence 
of the colonies ; and the Declaration of Independence, of 
the 4th of July following, was hailed by the people of 
Tryon county with joy." 



10 

The settlement of Western New York followed soon 
after the peace of 1783 

"Our national independence achieved, the glorious 
prospect of future peace and prosperity, opening upon 
our country," the armies disbanded, what more natural 
than that the men, who had passed through the new 
regions of the west, quelling the disturbers of the border 
settlers, and who at the same time observed the richness 
of the valleys, should retrace their steps upon a more 
peaceful errand and become pioneers of the wilderness. 

During the next few years numerous treaties were 
made with the Indians, who relinquished all claims 
within the State, for certain sums of money, except small 
reservations for themselves, with the right of hunting 
and fishing. 

In 1784, Hugh White, with his family, advanced 
beyond the bounds of civilization, and settled at what is 
now known as Whitestown, near Utica. 

In the same year the the county of Tryon had its 
name changed to Montgomery, in honor of Gen. Mont- 
gomery of Revolutionary fame, the citizens preferring the 
name of a patriot to that of an English Colonial Gover- 
nor. 

By an act passed in 1788 the western part of Mont- 
gomery county was called "Whitestown," in honor of 
Judge Hugh White, the early pioneer. 

Its boundaries were described thus: "Easterly by a 
line running north and south to the north and south 
boundaries of the state, and crossing the Mohawk River 
at the ford near and on the east side of the house of 



11 



William Cunningham, and which line is the western 
boundary of the towns of Herkimer, German Flatts and 
Otsego; southerly by the State of Pennsylvania; and 
west and north by the bounds of the State." 

The house of William Cunningham, mentioned in 
the description, stood on the west side of Genesee Street 
in the city of Utica. 

Whitestown, as defined in the act, embraced all of 
the western part of the state, including, of course, Cattar- 
raugus County. 

The County of Ontario was formed from the western 
part of Whitestown in Montgomery county, in 1789, and 
the old town of Northampton, Ontario county, included 
all of the Holland Purchase, the Mill-seat Tract and the 
Morris Reserve. 

There were but few settlers and those were mostly in 
the vicinity of the lower falls of the Genesee. 

You will recall that the grant of Charles II. to the 
Duke of York in 1664 covered a portion of the same 
territory already granted by James I. to the Plymouth 
colony, under the general designation of "New Eng- 
land." 

Naturally there were many disputes between the col- 
onies, regarding the right of jurisdiction and pre-emp- 
tion. This conflict continued until 1781, when the State 
of New York ceded to the United States all its claims to 
the territory lying west of a meridian line, running due 
south from the western bounds of Lake Ontario to the 
north line of Pennsylvania, this being identical with the 
present western boundary of Chautauqua county. All 



12 

similar claims were ceded by Massachusetts to the United 
States in 1785. Thus the territory under controversy 
was greatly diminished, and it was finally settled by a 
convention of commissioners, appointed by both states, 
held at Hartford, Conn., December 16, 1786. 

According to the decision made by the convention, 
"Massachusetts relinquished all jurisdiction over the ter- 
ritory lying west of the present eastern boundaries of the 
State of New York; and New York ceded to Massachu- 
setts the pre-emption right of all that part of the State of 
New York lying west of a line beginning at a point in 
the north line of Pennsylvania, 82 miles west of the 
northeast corner of said State, and running thence due 
north through Seneca Lake, to Lake Ontario ; excepting 
and reserving to the State of New York a strip of land, 
one mile wide, east of and adjoining the eastern banks of 
Niagara river, and extending its whole length." 

In April, 1788, the pre-emption right of this tract of 
nearly 6,000,000 acres was sold by Massachusetts to 
Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, for the sum of 
$1,000,000, and all the domain was known under the 
general appellation of "The Genesee Country." Tt in- 
cluded the present counties of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, 
Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, 
Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Yates, Steuben, and the 
greater part of Wayne. 

As has been stated the Phelps and Gorham contract 
was made with Massachusetts. 

In consequence of the adoption of the Constitution of 
the United States, it was anticipated that the general 



13 



government would assume the indebtedness of the sev- 
eral states, The effect of this was to make the holders 
of state securities less willing to sell at low rates ; so that 
Phelps and Gorham made few sales and consequently 
failed to meet their payments. 

Being thus driven to extremities, they negotiated with 
Robert Morris of Philadelphia, the financier of the Revo- 
lution and one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, and, on the 18th of November 1790, sold to 
him a large tract amounting to one million, two hun- 
dred and sixty-four thousand, five hundred and sixty- 
nine acres, one rod and ten perches. 

Mr. Morris soon after sold this tract to Sir William 
Pultney, an Englishman, who appointed Oapt. Charles 
Williamson his agent, to superintend his interests and to 
dispose of the lands by sale. This property is always re- 
ferred to as "The Pultney Estate." 

Capt, Williamson located at Canandaigua and there 
are many reminiscences that associate his name with 
early times in Western New York. 

The price paid by Mr. Morris for this great tract of 
land is stated to be at "the rate of eight pence half 
penny, Massachusetts currency, per acre; this would be 
equivalent to nearly VI cents U. S. money per acre." 

This seems, at this day, an insignificant price, yet, 
from the arge sums of money afterwards advanced by 
Sir William Pultney and his associates to bring the land 
into market, it is doubtful if the proprietors ever re- 
ceived any profit from their investment. Phelps and 
Gorham were finally compelled to agree to a compro- 



14 

mise, by the terms of which they re-conveyed to Massa- 
chusetts all that portion of their purchase to which the 
Indian title had not been extinguished. Two months 
later, May 11th, 1791, all the lands, thus relinquished, 
were sold to Robert Morris and conveyed to him by five 
different deeds. The tract of the first deed became 
known as the "Morris Reserve." 

The other four tracts we sold subsequently to several 
representatives of Holland capitalists, and the lands 
were collectively known as "The Holland Purchase." 

Reports soon became circulated that the pre-emption 
line had been incorrectly run. Robert Morris, on hear- 
ing this report, made preparations for a new survey. 

"Being intimately acquainted with Major Adam 
Hoops, a Revolutionary soldier and a resident of Phila- 
delphia, and from whom Mr. Morris had previous^ ob- 
tained valuable information as to the character of the 
countrv, he engaged the Major to explore the country 
and afterwards to survey such portions, as had not been 
surveyed, to re-survey others, and particularly to re-sur- 
vey the pre-emption line." Among some papers of Robert 
Morris (relating to his purchase of western lands) now in 
the possession of the New York Historical Society, there 
is a letter addressed to Oliver Phelps, dated, Philadel- 
phia, June 13th, 1791, in which Mr. Morris say§, "Mr. 
Hoops is the gentleman I have fixed on to survey those 
lands, which I purchased of Mr. Gorham and you. He 
is possessed of my instructions and authority to effect this 
business." The surve} T of this tract was made in 1791-92. 

David Rittenhouse of Philadelphia, the celebrated 



15 



American philosopher and one of the firm of "Ritten- 
house and Potts," mathematical and astronomical ins- 
trument makers, was employed to furnish Major Hoops 
with a suitable surveyor's outfit. 

The following is an extract from a letter written by 
Robert Morris to Capt. Charles Williamson, Ontario Co., 
N. Y., dated September 20, 1792 : "Get from Mr. Hoops 
one large map of all the lands the associated company 
bought of me, as soon as the survey is completed, and 
then have all the tracts or farms, as you sell them, sur- 
veyed and regularly marked on the map," etc. 

On the 16th day of February, 1793, at Philadelphia, 
Major Hoops made a "Return of Survey" of sundry town- 
ships and tracts of land in the county of Ontario and 
State of New York, belonging to the purchase of Robert 
Morris, and transferred by him to Sir William Pultney 
and others. 

A copy of this valuable historic paper is in the posses- 
sion of the attorney for the Pultney estate, at Geneva. 

Major Hoops was connected with the early surveys 
for some years, and his name appears on the account 
books of Capt. Williamson in 1793 and 1795. 

The Holland proprietors placed their interests in the 
lands of Theophilus Cazenova, the headquarters being at 
Philadelphia. 

In 1797 he employed Joseph Ellicott as the com- 
pany's chief surveyor and, as soon as the company's 
title was perfected, he proceeded to Western New York 
to survey their tract. 

About the same time, July 20th, 1797, Robert Morris 



16 

wrote to his son, Thomas Morris, who was representing 
his fathers' interests at Canandaigua, as follows: 

"I have engaged Mr. Adam Hoops to go and attend 
or superintend the surveys on my behalf. I can rely on 
his integrity." 

And again, on July 29th, 1797, he addressed his son 
thus: "I had agreed with Major Hoops, before the receipt 
of your letter, to go and superintend the survey of 
the Genesee country. 

"He is a man on whom I can perfectly depend, his 
care, regularity, sobriety, and attention to business is equal 
to any man's, but whether his practical or scientific 
knowledge of surveying is equal to that of Mr. Augustus 
Porter, whom you recommend, I do not know, but 1 do 
suppose there will be employment for both and I shall 
recommend Mr. Porter to be employed in the business." 

About the 15th of May, 1798, Joseph Ellicott went to 
Western New York to begin the survey of the Holland 
Purchase. At the time of his departure, Robert Morris, 
at the request of Mr. Cazenove, wrote ,o Major Hoops, 
then at Canandaigua, announcing officially that Joseph 
Ellicott, with whom he (A. H ) was intimately acquaint- 
ed, had been employed to make the survey for the Hol- 
land Land Company, and telling him to give to Mr. 

Ellicott whatever assistance or advice was necessary. 

Mr. Ellicott arrived at Canandaigua on the 12th of 
June, 1798, but found that Mr. Hoops was then at the 
camp on the "Chetawque." He soon returned but left 
almost immediately for Philadelphia leaving Thomas 



17 

Morris in charge of affairs. Mr. Ellicott and his assist- 
ants began their work at once, and the division of the 
Holland Purchase into ranges and townships was com- 
pleted in 1799. 

Some years ago, while the boundaries of this town- 
ship were being established, one of the surveyors (Steph- 
en Welch, of Allegany) discovered on a tree standing up- 
on the property of Judge Brooks, the date, October 22, 
1798, no doubt cut thereon by the surveying party under 
Joseph Ellicott. 

In 1799, Paul Busti succeeded Mr. Cazenove as the 
general agent of the Holland Com pan y and, next to Mr. 
Ellicott, he is more closely identified with the settlement 
of the Holland Purchase, than any other individual. 

Mr. Ellicott was made resident agent upon the tract 
in 1800, and two years Inter established the general land 
office at Batavia. 

In the meantime, June 1st, 1798, Adam Hoops had 
been appointed Major of the Penn. National Troops, 
Artillerists and Engineers, which commission he held 
until his resignation, July 31, 1800 The "Regiment of 
Artillerists and Engineers" was organized under an Ac; 
of Congress of April 27, 1798. The name of this organi- 
zation was changed, April 1st, 1802, to "Regiment of 
Artillerist" and again in 1814 to "Corps of Artillery." 

Tn 1801 we find that Major Hoops again had dealings 
with Capt. Chas. Williamson at Canandaigua. 

There is no question but that Major Hoops was per- 
sonally familiar with this locality, and had observed 
that the headwaters of the Allegany would be an advan- 



18 

tageous point from which emigrants could embark on 
their journey from the east to the undeveloped west. 

In fact there is a letter of many closely written pages 
on file in the Buffalo Historical Society, bearing the 
date 1S02, in which he sets forth the advantages of a 
settlement at the junction of Oil Creek and the Allegany 
River. 

He evidentty gave the subject great consideration, 
for on the 23d of May, 1802, he communicated with 
Paul Busti regarding the purchase and soon went to 
Batavia to confer with Joseph Ellicott in regard to 
terms. 

He returned to Philadelphia and after further inves- 
tigation, and the exchange of many, letters, the sale was 
consummated in the fall of 1803. 

This was the first contract made by the Holland 
Company for the sale of lands within the county of 
Cattaraugus. 

The purchase consisted of 20,054 acres of land. Enos 
Kellogg was appointed to make the survey and the 
maps were completed July 16th, 1805. 

Major Hoops was again at Canandaigua in the 
spring of 1804 and some time in April, he set out to 
visit his purchase. 

However, before leaving, he wrote to Joseph Ellicott, 
first giving him a few instructions regarding the survey 
and then continuing as follows: 

"It was proposed to me at New York to drop the 
Indian name of Ischue or Ischua. (It is spelt in other 
ways). Confusion might perhaps arise from the various 



19 

spellings, of which to obviate all risks, I have concluded 
to do as proposed. The neighborhood of the Oil Spring 
suggests a name, different in sound, tho' perhaps not 
of different meaning, which I wish to adopt. It is 
Olean. 

You will do me a favor by assisting me to establish 
this name, it may easily be done now by your concur- 
rence. The purpose would most effectually be an- 
nounced by emplo} 7 ing the term when occasion requires, 
without saying anything of an intended change of 
name To begin, you will greatly oblige me by address- 
ing the first letter you may have occasion to write me, 
after I receive the surveys, to the Mouth of Olean. The 
bearer being properly instructed. There will be there- 
after no difficulty. Your co-operation in this matter, 
the effect of which tho' not important in itself, may be so 
on account of precision. 

Your ob. servant, 

A Hoops. 
To Joseph Ellicott, Esq., 
Batavia." 

This letter bears the date April 15th, 1804, and seems 
to me accurate proof of the naming of our town, although 
there are other traditions concerning its origin. 

This interesting letter is now in the possession of the 
Buffalo Historical Society. 

The route from Canandaigua to the Mouth of Olean 
took an almost southwesterly course, by way of Hartford 
and Angelica. 

Evidently Major Hoops' visit in this vicinity was of 
brief duration, as another letter to Joseph Ellicott, dated 
May 10th, 1804, states that he has just returned from the 
Mouth of Olean, and reports the very bad condition of 
the roads and suggests improvements. 



20 

In a letter, dated Hartford, July 6th, 1804, he tells 
Mr. Ellicott that "The following are the selections which 
I have made on and near the Allegany river, the Ischue 
(now called Olean) and the Tosquahossa creeks, being 
my first and second selections, and also in the Township 
No. 4 in the 2d and 3d Ranges." He then enumerates 
the ranges, townships and sections. 

He returned to Canandaigua, but again visited the 
Mouth of Olean in August, to which place Mr. Ellicott 
addressed letters dated August 24th and September 19th, 
1804. This indicates that Major Hoops' suggestion, re- 
lating to the change of name, was acted upon at once. 

About this time Major Hoops was joined by his 
brother, Robert Hoops. 

A letter dated Olean, October 7th, 1804, was written 
by Robert Hoops to Joseph Ellicott, in which he says 
that he had just returned from the Friends' Settlement, 
where his brother had been confined for some time by 
illness, and that "his health would not permit of his re- 
moval." 

Robert Hoops made the first settlement at Olean 
Point in that year, and erected a log house near the 
river, on what is now known as the "Martin Farm" or 
"East Olean." 

He remained here, as his brother's agent, until his 
death in 1816. He, too, had served in the Revolutionary 
war. He was a widower and left no posterity in this 
vicinity, 

Adam Hoops was again in Olean October 11th, 1805, 
and undoubtedly made frequent visits here from time to 



21 

time. There are several letters extant, written from 
Canandaigua during the years of 1806 and 1807. 

Moses Brooks, (son of the John Brooks who located 
herein 1806) in an old diary (1810), mentions Major 
Adam Hoops, and also his indebtedness to Robert Hoops 
for the use of his large library. 

The Quaker, or rather Friends' Settlement, mentioned 
by Robert Hoops, was the first white settlement in the 
limits of Cattaraugus county. It was made in 1798, by 
three young Quakers from Philadelphia, who came as 
missionaries to the Indians. 

For several years Olean's nearest neighbors were 
those of the "Van Cam pen Settlement," located in what 
is now Almond, Allegany county ; commenced in 1796, 
by Maj. Moses Van Campen ; the "King Settlement" of 
the Oswayo in Pennsylvania, now called Ceres ; and 
Judge Church's place, twenty-eight miles east, near 
Angelica, Allegany county. 

Previous to Major Hoops' purchase here, Genesee 
county was erected. The Act was passed March 30th, 
1802. The county of Ontario embraced all that was for- 
merly known as Whitestown. By the same Act, three 
new towns were formed, namely, Southampton, Leister 
and Batavia. The last named included the western part 
of Allegany, Wyoming, Genesee and Orleans, and all of 
Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. 

The next division affecting territory now within 
Cattaraugus county was made in 1804, when Batavia 
was sub-divided into the towns of 'Willink, Erie, Chau- 
tauqua and Batavia. 



22 

Olean, and all the towns north and next west to 
the northern bounds of the present limits of Cattaraugus 
county, were included in Willink. 

Finally on March 11th, 1808, Niagara, Cattaraugus 
and Chautauqua counties were erected, but it was pro- 
vided that Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties should 
act in conjunction with Niagara county, until the re- 
spective counties should contain five hundred taxable in- 
habitants qualified to vote. 

^The Act made many other provisions regarding the 
establishment of Courts, appointing of certain officials, 
etc., and further stated that the county of Cattaraugus 
be erected into a town by the name of "Olean." 

By a law passed June 16, 1812, the town of Olean 
was divided into two towns, the southern half to retain 
the name of Olean and the northern half to be called 
Ischua. 

For certain judicial reasons these towns were now 
annexed to the county of Allegany, but two years later, 
1814, a new town was formed of the western parts of 
Olean and Ischua, called Perry, and this western part 
was annexed to Niagara county, the eastern hal $ f still re- 
maining under the jurisdiction of Allegany county. 

These three towns of Olean, Ischua and Perry re- 
mained unchanged until after the final organization of 
the county in 1817. 

Olean lost half its remaining territory in 1818, when 
Great Valley was erected; this town included^what are 
now the towns of Great Valley, Carrolton, ai 
phrey. 



23 

Hinsdale was taken off in 1820 and Portville was 
formed in 1837, reducing Olean to its present size and 
form. 

The foregoing indicates that Olean is the oldest town 
in Cattaraugus county, and is co-equal with it in age 
and extent. 

The village of Olean was not incorporated until 1854, 
just half a century after its first settlement. The charter 
election took place May 19th, 1855. The poll list con- 
tained sixty-five names, and the assessment for taxes of 
the same year amounted to only $855.00. 

As has been stated, the first settlement at Olean was 
made in 1804 by Robert Hoops and a David Hueston. 
The latter was accidentally killed in 1807, while cutting 
spars to be used as oars for a raft. 

Following them in the spring of 1806, came Corne- 
lius and John Brooks, Wyllis Thrall and William 
Shepard. 

Within the present limits of Hinsdale a settlement 
was made by Zachariah Noble and his two brothers, 
Charles Foote and Thomas Lusk. 

A settlement was also made by Joseph McClure on 
the Ischua Creek. 

These were the pioneers of this section of Western 
New York. None of these settlements progressed very 
rapidly, for it is found from official sources that at the 
end of six years from Adam Hoops' first settlement at 
Olean Point, in 1804, the entire territory of Cattaraugus 
county, otherwise Olean, contained only 458 souls. 

In the spring of 1808, James G. Johnson came to 



24 

Olean, but he died early in 1811, and was the first person 
buried in Oak Lawn cemetery, which land had been 
donated for burial purposes by Mr. Hoops in 1807. 

After Mr. Johnson's death, his widow returned to her 
father's home, and it was not until 1819 that she again 
removed to Olean, accompanied by her sons, Marcus 
and James G, In the meantime Mrs, Johnson had 
married Anson King. 

Just outside the present corporate limits of the city, 
Jeheil Boardman settled in March 1814, and for several 
years he kept a tavern very near the present site of the 
Boardman residence. 

Simeon Hicks entered into a contract for land within 
the town of Hinsdale in 1807, which land was a part of 
the "Hoop's Tract" and included in Olean. 

In 1812, he married Loranda, the daughter of Capt. 
Elihu Murray (the marriage ceremony was performed by 
John Brooks, Esq., of Olean). 

Capt. Murray was a Revolutionary soldier and loca- 
ted in Hinsdale about 1809, but removed to Chenango Co. 
three years later. His son, Elihu Murray, Jr., opened a 
tavern about a mile below the village of Hinsdale, in 
1810. 

Lewis Wood and Emery Yates also became settlers on 
the "Hoop's Tract," within the present bounds of Hins- 
dale, in 1813. 

Emery Wood, later known as Col. Wood, joined his 
brothers prior to 1820, in which year the town of Hins- 
dale was formed from Olean. 



25 

The first birth within the present bounds of the town 
of Glean, was a daughter of William Shepard, born May 
22, 1807. She was christened Olean Shepard. The 
first male child born in Olean was Marcus H. Johnson, 
born October 4th, 1809. 

When the village was first laid out it was called 
"Hamilton," in honor of Alexander Hamilton, but the 
general designation was "Olean Point," and in a short 
time the latter name was used altogether. The post 
office was never officially called Hamilton. 

The plan of the village was copied no doubt from the 
"City of Brotherly Love." The streets were all wide and 
laid out to give ample room for building purposes. 

Many of the streets were named in honor of the pa- 
triots of '76 and other distinguished men of that period, 
several of them being personal friends of Major Adam 
Hoops. 

Union street was probably named in commemoration 
of the Union of the States under a Federal Government. 

Barry street, after Commodore Barry, to whom Rob- 
ert Morris presented the sword of Paul Jones, which he 
had received from the King of France, with the request 
that it should fall successively in to the hands of the old- 
est commander of the American Nav}'. 

Washington street, of course, in honor of the "Father 
of our Country." Sullivan and Clinton were named re- 
spectively for the Major-Generals of those names, who 
conducted the expedition against the indians in 1779. 

Wayne, for Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne, who 



2fi 

by his courage and skill saved Lafayette in Virginia in 
1780, and by his dash and audacity acquired the sobri- 
quet of "Mad Anthony." 

Green, was so called for Major-General Nathaniel 
Green. Hamilton, in honor of Alexander Hamilton, an 
Aide-de-camp of General Washington's and later the 
first Secretary of the Treasury. 

Laurens, also named for an Aide-de-camp of Wash- 
ington's, John Laurens, who has been called the "Bay- 
ard of the American Revolution." 

Jay, was named for John Jay, one of the four who ne- 
gotiated the treaty of peace with Great Britain, and also 
the first Chief Justice of the United States, 

Henley was named later for Col. Henley, a prominent 
figure in the war of 1812. 

For a time Olean was more famed than either Buffalo 
or Pittsburg. It became the chief place of embarkation 
for emigrants, and for many years great numbers as- 
sembled here each spring, built or purchased boats or 
rafts, and started on their way down the Allegany and 
Ohio. 

The most rapid influx of settlers to the village of 
Olean occurred from 1810 to 1820. 

Prominent among those who arrived during that de- 
cade were Sylvan us Russell, Ebenezer Reed, Jeheil 
Boardman, Seymour Bouton, Timothy Porter, Luman 
Rice, David Day, Elkanah Day, David Bockes, Samuel 
Brunson, Col. Luke Goodspeed, John Fobes, Anson 



27 

% 

King, Dr. Norman Smith, Zachariah Oosterhoudt, James 
G. Johnson, Samuel Barrows and Frederick S. Martin, 
who was familiarly known as Judge Martin, having been 
Associate Judge of the County Court in 1840. 

During the next decade came Ahijah Warren, Daniel 
S. Dickinson, Rollin Pratt, David Godfrey, Thomas 
Oviatt, W. W. Penfield and Dr Edward Finn ; and 
among those who located here between 1830 and 1840, 
were Dr. Lambert Whitney, Roderick White, Norman 
Birge, John L. Smith, Ansel Adams and Caleb Smith. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Olean was organ- 
ized August 28, 1822. The original members were Cor- 
nelius Brooks, Ahijah C. Warren, Anson King, Norman 
Smith, John Boardman, Bathsheba Warren, Sophia 
King and Abigail Smith. The documents relating to its 
organization, consisting of * 4 the confession of faith," "the 
covenant," etc., with names of the first members, are in 
the possession of Mrs. George Van Campen, a daughter 
of Anson and Sophia King. 

The immediate enterprise of Adam Hoops did not 
flourish, and, as he was unable to complete his payments 
for the purchase, a large part of the tract reverted to the 
Holland Company, and a portion of it passed into the 
ownership of Ebenezer F. Norton. 

After the foreclosure of the mortgage, Adam Hoops 
had no further interests in this locality, although in 1820 
he was assessed for 54 acres of land in the town of Hins- 
dale. There is little or nothing known of his subsequent 
life, though he undoubtedly lived for a time at Canan- 



28 

daigua. In 1816 he was at the Sulphur springs, near 
Avon, where he was being treated for rheumatism. 

He was made Military Storekeeper of Ordnance, 
March 8, 1824, and was stationed at Watervleit, N. Y. 
This position he held until honorably discharged Octo- 
ber 1, 1842. His application for pension was made from 
Watervleit, Albany county, N. Y , December 30, 1828, 
and the pension was allowed for over five years actual 
service as a captain, in the Maryland troops, .Revolution- 
ary War. 

Adam Hoops was a native of Carlisle, Cumberland 
count} 7 , Pa., and was born on the 9th day of January, 
1760. He was of English descent, and had a genealogi- 
cal record back to the 9th century. 

(Miss King, author of "History of Ceres," states that 
members of her family have seen this record. The King 
family were intimate friends of both Major Hoops and 
his brother Robert, and frequently entertained them at 
their home in Ceres.) 

There is recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives that 
an Adam Hoops was one of the first grand jurors on the 
organization of Cumberland county, in 1750; also that 
Adam Hoops, of Cumberland county, Pa , in 1755, wrote 
letters to the Governor of Pennsylvania, reporting the 
commission of outrages by the Indians on the Juniata 
and other places. The same year, 1755, Adam Hoops 
was appointed, by Gov. Robert H. Morris, one of five 
commissioners to lay out a military road from "the set- 
tled parts of the province to a branch of the Monongahela 



29 

called Yohiogain," for the transportation of supplies for 
Braddock's troops on the route to Ft. Du Quesne. 

The name of Adam Hoops appears upon the list of 
taxables in. Carlisle, in 1762. 

In 1764, and again in 1769, Adam Hoops received the 
appointment as Justice of the Court of Quarter Session 
for the county, from Lieut.-Gov. John Penn. Presuma- 
bly these records refer to the father of Major Hoops. 

The following record, relative to the military services 
of Adam Hoops, appears in a publication entitled, 
"Heitman's Historical Register of Officers of the Conti- 
nental Army during War of the Revolution:" 

"Hoops Adam, 2d Lieut., 4th Maryland, 10th Decem- 
ber, 1776 : 1st Lieut, 15th October, 1777 ; Captain, 15th 
October, 1779 ; taken prisoner at Camden, 16th August, 
1780 ; transferred to 2d Maryland, 1st January, and was 
a prisoner on parole to close of war." 

The battle of Camden, where Captain Adam Hoops 
was taken prisoner, was one of the most disastrous bat- 
tles of the war. Six hundred of the eight hundred 
Maryland troops, engaged in the battle, were left dead 
upon the field. 

In the War Department, the name of Adam Hoops, 
with rank given as Captain, appears in a list not dated, 
of officers of the 2nd (Gunby's) Maryland Regiment, 
which list bears the remark "March 16th, 1781" opposite 
his name. 

Major Adam Hoops also acted as an Aide-de-camp to 
Gen. John Sullivan in his expedition against the In- 



30 

dians in 1779. This was one of the most memorable 
events of that year. 

Major Hoops kept a journal during the Sullivan 
campaign but, unfortunately, it has been lost. 

It was, no doubt, while on this expedition that he 
observed the fertile valleys of the Mohawk and the Gen- 
esee, and at the close of the war, recalled this section of 
the country as a desirable place for settlement. 

It may be worthy of mention, that many of the 
pioneers of this region were with Gen. Sullivan's expe- 
dition and probably were influenced later, by Major 
Hoops, to locate here. 

By an order of Congress, all officers, in service at the 
close of the war, were entitled to a brevet rank. Thus 
Captain Hoops became a Major. 

At the time of his enlistment he was but sixteen 
years of age, and just in the prime of life when he 
founded the town of Olean. He was a bachelor and is 
said to have been a decided woman hater. 

The last years of his life he resided at West Chester, 
Pennsylvania, and for a time boarded with Joshua 
Hoopes, an old school master. 

In the "State Report of Sullivan's Campaign," pub- 
lished in 1842, and also in "General Sullivan's Indian 
Expedition," published by the State of N. Y. in 1887, 
there is a copy of a letter, dated West Chester, Septem- 
ber 18th, 1841, written by Major Hoops to Hon. John 
Greig of Canandaigua, in which Adam Hoops gives his 
version of the fate of Boyd and Parker. 



31 

He died, aged 86 year and 6 months, at West Chester, 

Pennsylvania and was buried in the North Laurel Hill 

Cemetery at Philadelphia. The following is a copy of 

the inscription upon his tombstone: 

"In Memory of 

MAJOR ADAM HOOPS, 

1st Regiment U. S. Artillery. 

A gallant, accomplished and patriotic soldier of the Revolution. 

Born at Carlisle, Pa., on the 9th day of January, A. D. 1760. 

Died at West Chester, Pa., on the 9th day of June, A. D. 1846." 

You will recall, that in the letter written by Adam 

Hoops to Joseph Ellicott, April 15th, 1804, in which he 

proposes to change the name of this region from "Ischue" 

to "Olean," he says: 

"The neighborhood of the 'Oil Spring' suggests a 
name, different in sound, tho' perhaps not of different 
meaning. It is Okan." The Oil Spring referred to was 
situated about ten miles from Cuba on Oil Creek. Its 
existence was known by the French Jesuits before 1721. 

The Indians regarded it of great value, attributing to 
it important medicinal qualities. The mile square em- 
bracing it, was one of the reservations of the Seneca 
Indians, in their treaty with Robert Morris. 

The Indian name of the Reservation was Tecarnohs, 
signifying "dripping oil." Olean is no doubt derived 
from the Latin, oleum, meaning oil. 

An effort has been made to learn the names of the 
Revolutionary soldiers, who settled at one time or an- 
other in this vicinity, but no reliable list has yet been 
made. In 1840, there were sixty-two Revolutionary 



32 

pensioners in this county There are only three soldiers 
of the Revolutionary War buried in Olean — Jeheil Board- 
man, Cornelius Brooks and Ebenezer Reed. 

Although the patriots, who fought for the freedom of 
our country, should be remembered for their heroic 
deeds, we should also recall with gratitude those pioneer 
settlers, who advanced into the wilderness to subjugate 
the forests, and to dispute with a primative race, the right 
to exercise domain over the fertile valleys. 

It is almost impossible for one, unfamiliar with life 
in the wilderness, to appreciate the difficulties, the dan- 
gers and privations, which had to be endured by these 
our ancestors, but it is to their patient endurance and 
determined efforts we are indebted for our present privi- 
leges and the many blessings of civilization. 



